Implementation Period: July 2021 – July 2022

ASET Center, with financial support from  Civil Society Support Agency, identified in 2021 that the need for special support for the elderly and those with physical and mental disabilities was essential after the Covid-19 pandemic. These vulnerable groups faced feelings of insecurity and isolation during the quarantine period. Their social situation was difficult due to the continuous impact of the virus and the psycho-social challenges they faced for over a year.

To address these needs  ASET Center, with Civil Society Support Agency, provided online counseling and psycho-social therapy for around a year. This service aimed to assist individuals by distributing informative brochures on coping with the consequences of the pandemic and engaging a network of volunteers who also worked on socializing elderly individuals, the most isolated population during the pandemic, in order to improve the quality of life and alleviate the consequences of the pandemic.

This new model of online services for counseling and therapy was developed through a standardized protocol and manuals created for the purpose of offering this service. Through these services, professionals aimed to enable individuals in need to better manage their social and psychological issues, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable life in the challenging post-Covid period. Online counseling therapy after COVID-19 also enabled individuals in rural or remote areas, who had limited access to mental health professionals, to receive counseling without the need to travel. Vulnerable groups (people with disabilities or those with chronic health problems) also benefited from online therapy, as they were able to receive support without facing physical mobility barriers.